1988 scenario

[WalterMitty]

gov. mark white of texas/sen. chris dodd of ct (d)

vs.

sen. bob dole/sec. of treasury james baker (r)

discuss w/maps

[gorkay]

Why didn't Bush get the Republican nomination?

[○∙◄☻¥tπ[╪AV┼cVê└]

Why didn't Bush get the Republican nomination?

Maybe the media actually goes after Bush's Nazi connections.

http://www.skepticfiles.org/socialis/bushhoax.htm

[WalterMitty]

Why didn't Bush get the Republican nomination?

bush chooses to take some time off.

maybe he runs for governor of texas in 1990.

[Kaine for Senate '18]

[gorkay]

I don't remember that much about Mark White, to be honest, so I'm not sure how good a candidate he would have been. But since Dole would have been weaker than Bush in all likelihood, and Baker wasn't somebody who was used to running for elective office, I'd give the edge to the Democrats. The 1988 election seemed to be pretty much there for the taking, anyway, until Dukakis blew it.

If this had really happened, it's likely that Bill Clinton would never have become President. And if he hadn't, there's little chance that Hillary would be running now. Talk about your domino effect!

[Lincoln Republican]

An interesting race. 

White does not have a national profile, and is completely underwhelming on a national ticket.  Dole is much more widely known and is considered much more prepared for the office of the Presidency, in the nation overall, than is White.

White is rejected in his home state of Texas in the Presidential election of 1988, two years after being rejected by Texans in the gubernatorial race in 1986.  Texan Baker on the ticket, combined with Dole's conservative record, push Texas into the Republican column.

Dodd helps White in the northeast, and parts of the midwest. 

Moderate conservative Dole and southerner Baker sweep the south. 

Baker gets a degree of satisfaction in this election, being instrumental in helping Dole carry Texas, and being on the winning ticket, after having being defeated by White in the race for Texas Attorney General in 1978.   

Bottom line, White would be a weak Presidential candidate.   

Dole/Baker                      329
White/Dodd                     209